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Are Grow Systems Like Seedo The Next Big Thing Or Just Hype?

While growing primo buds isn’t uncharted territory, growing quality weed still takes more effort and knowledge than most consumers have the time and aptitude to invest in.

As laws surrounding the consumption and cultivation of marijuana have relaxed, many canna-preneurs have emerged to stake a claim in the burgeoning legal weed business, including tech startups aiming to make homegrown marijuana as simple as clicking a few boxes and handing over a credit card, including Israeli-based firm Seedo.

The promise is certainly alluring; while growing primo buds isn’t uncharted territory, growing quality weed still takes more effort and knowledge than most consumers have the time and aptitude to invest in, despite interest in grow-your-own highs.

The dream of an all-in-one, set-it-and-forget-it mini-grow system is one certainly worth chasing, and while your stoner friend had enough time on their hands to tend to their herb, people with things like careers and families are ready to trade money for expertise and convenience. Aspiring lazy green thumbs may actually be at a bigger disadvantage than bud growers of yore, as capital invested in these startups have clearly gone into funding marketing like SEO and online reputation management which cast a heavy haze on the veracity of online research.

RELATED: Home Brew Or Home Marijuana Cultivation: Which Is More Cost Effective?

Shallow digging into Seedo and their competitors will result in mostly PR releases and positive references to products that have only just started to ship with many pre-orders still waiting for fulfillment. Those seeking a more balanced view would have to look past big name endorsements like Snoop Dogg’s and messed with Google results, and dig deep into the less traveled threads on message boards and Reddit posts to see beyond the search engine manipulations for a more balanced appraisal.

Legal Weed Is Making An Impact On The Billion Dollar Sleep Market
Photo by Cavan Images/Getty Images

Are these next-gen grow systems that promise plug-and-play marijuana worth the investment? It’s probably too early to know, as both the technology behind the products and the rules around growing are still in early days. Traditional grow setups are tried-and-true, and communities devoted to home grow have sprouted more and more as attitudes around cannabis consumption relax.

RELATED: This Grow Box Company Is Trying To Lure Hip Hop Artists

Those interested in DIY would perhaps be better served investing time in understanding how to grow weed indoors in order to better evaluate the promises made by gilded tongued marketers with big advertising warchests.

Ultimately, celebrity endorsements and online strategies are no substitute for an informed consumer. Investing in nascent technology can result in having the next big game changer like the iPhone or a Juicero-like reminder to not chase every grand promise made by smooth-talking tech entrepreneurs.

The Most Discussed Topics On Tinder In 2019

  While millennials chose to gush about traveling this past year, younger generations were more likely to discuss their missions and political affiliations.

There’s not one aspect of our lives that isn’t dominated by heated political talk, not even Tinder. Recently the dating app, like many other companies, released a summary of their year, discussing how people are interacting through their app, including the most talked about politicians.

The Year in Swipe – What 2019 Taught Us About the Future of Dating highlights how important politics have become for Tinder users in recent years, a topic that unites or separates potential matches.

“Relationship pairings are about value systems,” Dr. Katherine Hertlein, a professor of the Couple and Family Therapy program at the University of Nevada, told Mashable. “One way to evaluate the value system of another is through knowledge of an examination of their political stance.”

RELATED: Tinder’s Super Like Function Is A Little Controversial

Among the many interesting discoveries Tinder made with its review is the fact that while millennials chose to gush about traveling, younger generations were more likely to discuss their missions and political affiliations.

bernie sanders blasts marijuana prohibition in his new book
Photo by Ralph Freso/Stringer/Getty Images

Members of the app are much more vocal about climate change, gun control and social justice when compared to previous years.

Among the most mentioned politicians are Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump, Elizabeth Warren and Greta Thunberg. The app makes no distinction on whether users actually supported said politicians, but knowing that Gen Z makes up the biggest bulk of Tinder, you can make an educated guess on who stands where.

RELATED: Dating Apps Are Sponsoring Frat Parties Now

Other fun bits of information Tinder revealed include the fact that the facepalm emoji represented everyone’s feelings, that Lizzo and the reunion of the Jonas Brothers were one of the most breached topics of discussions, and that 30% more users were open to dating all genders when compared to previous years.

Next year is an election year, which means that all of this political talk is heavily influenced by the fact that our stress is at an all time high. Honestly, it’s kind of felt this way since 2016.

These Three US Cities Smoke More Marijuana Than Tobacco

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These are the only three American cities where residents smoke more cannabis than nicotine.

For a portrait of what marijuana normalization resembles, look no farther than Seattle, San Francisco, and Portland. Those are the only three American cities where residents smoke more cannabis than nicotine, according to analytics firm Nielsen.

In the past 30 days, more than 300,000 Seattle residents ages 18 and older have consumed marijuana products. That accounts for about 17% of the adult population within the city, reports The Seattle Times. That outpaces use of nicotine or tobacco products, which includes cigarettes and nicotine vaping devices. Around 16% of Seattle adults reported using nicotine products in the past 30 days.

RELATED: How To Naturally Beat Nicotine Addiction With Cannabis

Portland, OR, meanwhile, rates as the city with the largest number of adult cannabis users. Approximately 20% of Portland adults have recently consumed marijuana products, but only 19% of them have recently used nicotine products. Las Vegas (18%) and Denver (18%) follow Portland for the highest number of cannabis users, with Seattle taking fourth place. San Francisco, by the way, is the only other American city where adults use more marijuana (16%) than nicotine (13%).

Edibles Producers In WA State Have Been Slapped With New Annual Fee
Photo by zoe pappas via Pexels

Nielsen polled more than 200,000 American adults nationally between January 2018 to May 2019 for the survey. They did not ask any participants if they were using legal medical marijuana products, or if they had obtained their marijuana through the black market.

RELATED: Is San Francisco The Most Weed Friendly City In The US?

As you likely surmised, the cities with the highest percentage of marijuana users all come from states with expansive adult-use cannabis legalization and regulation. However, there is one city where that wasn’t the case — Albuquerque-Santa Fe.

According to Nielsen, 14% of the city’s adult population consumes marijuana products, which ranks it eighth among 70 metro areas. That means more adults in the Albuquerque-Santa Fe area use marijuana than areas where it’s legal, such as Spokane, WA, where only 12% of adults reported recent marijuana use.

How To Use Marijuana On The DL When You’re Home For The Holidays

Stirring up the munchies before a big feast, puffing on some frosty buds during winter shindigs, or even taking a relaxing toke during the interim isn’t easy for everyone.

It seems like every year we start celebrating the holidays earlier. Get togethers with loved ones become the hallmarks of the season, as do extended stays with family.

Stirring up the munchies before a big feast, puffing on some frosty buds during winter shindigs, or even taking a relaxing toke during the interim isn’t easy for everyone. No matter the size of the gathering, there always seems to be someone pinching a cheek or stopping you to talk about the weather. But if you can manage to sneak in a sesh, here’s how to do it on the down-low:

Vape Pens

Vape pens are about as stealthy as you can get because, for the most part, they’re odorless. Test your wax or prefilled cart beforehand with a trusty, sober friend to make sure there’s no lingering aroma and then plan your escapes. If you can’t “go out to the car for a minute” or take a short walk, vaping in the bathroom is your old school go-to. It’s not glamorous, but blowing a lungful into the toilet while it flushes is sure to erase vapor from the room and keep you in good graces.

RELATED: How To Discreetly Smoke Marijuana At A Hotel Without A $300 Charge

Former Juul Executive Said Company Sold 1 Million Contaminated Pods
Photo by Flickr user Vaping360

Edibles

Even stealthier than vape pens are edibles. With the platters of cookies floating around and other goodies abounding, munching on your own piece of heaven won’t seem odd at all. A few things, though. First, make sure it’s an edible you’ve tried before so you can gauge your coming high. Second, no matter how Grinch-y you’re feeling, don’t overdo it. Having red slits for eyes and staring into Uncle Larry’s liver spots makes it so you might as well have broken out the peace pipe in the middle of dinner. Try a 10 or 20 mg dose to simply sparkle up the room and give you some extra munchies for the feasting.

RELATED: 4 Super-Discreet Ways To Use Marijuana

Marijuana Edibles
Photo by NordWood Themes via Unsplash

Pinner Joints

If you are able to get out of the house and go for a wintery stroll, having a few pinners rolled up and ready to go will have you taking breaks throughout the days. A three minute joint is perfect for your absence going unnoticed. And if it is noticed, it’s excusable. However, from the purps to the diesels, even a little joint is going to make a loud appearance. Prepare yourself ahead of time with a sample size perfume or cologne to carry and when you get back inside go straight to the bathroom and rinse your face and hands off to further eliminate any bouquet of evidence.

RELATED: 7 Crucial Cannabis Hacks For Surviving The Holiday Season

Photo by Cavan Images/Getty Images

Never Admit To Police You’ve Been Smoking Marijuana

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While marijuana is no longer bound by total prohibition, police are still finding ways to drag people to jail for using this stuff. And sometimes, these legal troubles are brought on by a person’s own admission.

Now that marijuana is legal in more spots across the United States, people seem to have this idea that it’s okay to be all willy-nilly about their pot use. Some believe that legalization means there are no longer any rules associated with this plant, so they throw caution to the wind when it comes to leaving their homes with weed. And that can spell disaster in some cases, especially with any situation involving a pot consumer and the police.

While marijuana is no longer bound by total prohibition, the boys in blue are still finding ways to drag people to jail for using this stuff. And sometimes, these legal troubles are brought on by a person’s own admission.

Earlier this week, just hours after Michigan officially launched its retail pot market for adults 21 and older, the Detroit News reported that a motorist crashed into a state police vehicle. The cause of the accident was the result of hazardous road conditions, yet, when grilled on the matter, the driver told officers that he had smoked marijuana earlier in the day. “He admitted to smoking marijuana (before) the incident,” State Police Lieutenant Sarah Krebs told the news source. That’s all the evidence of impairment that the cops needed to drag this poor soul straight to jail.

RELATED: How To Keep Police From Searching Your Vehicle For Weed

The report indicates that the motorist was “driving too fast for road conditions,” which inadvertently caused the vehicle to spin out of control and ram into a police cruiser along Interstate 75. In the event of a nasty crash (even one where there are no injuries), it is typical for police to investigate the matter to see if any type of impairment may have been the cause. If they suspect that a motorist is under the influence of alcohol, they take steps to either confirm or eliminate that suspicion from the equation. A breathalyzer is all police really need to come to this conclusion.

these colorado men were arrested after reporting stolen marijuana to wyoming police
Photo by J.Castro/Getty Images

Police Ramping Up

But now that marijuana is legal, law enforcement in these jurisdictions are hellbent on pinning accidents on stoned driving. Police officers in Illinois are already ramping up their efforts to bust high drivers ahead of the January launch of the state’s recreational marijuana market. Only the cops do not have the appropriate roadside tools (there’s no breathalyzer for marijuana) to prove that someone has actually been smoking weed.

Suspects must undergo a blood test before this determination can be made. And a motorist would have to be really high (bloodshot eyes, reeking of weed and displaying bizarre behaviors) before the cops would ever get serious about pressing the issue. 

RELATED: Get Busted Driving With Marijuana And You May Lose Your Vehicle

Even if you have been smoking marijuana before taking a cruise, never admit that to police. Because if you do, the cops will surely arrest you, take you in for a blood test, charge you with driving under the influence of drugs (DUID), and you will sit in the county jail until you can bail out. Your admission of guilt will make it difficult to fight your case in court, and a judge will likely convict you of DUID. 

From there, you’ll lose your driver’s license and have to endure drug classes and jump through a bunch of other hoops to get it back. No, no, no. Make the police work for it. No matter how it shakes out, your silence will still give you a better chance at beating the charge in court. This is because there are no proven methods for determining marijuana impairment. Police can only tell that you’ve used marijuana at some point. And that’s not enough to convict a person for DUID.  

Legal experts in states where marijuana is no longer bound by prohibition say most of the stoned driving cases end up either dismissed or acquitted because the prosecution cannot prove impairment.

“You’ll see in police reports that they’ll have the watery eyes and the smell of marijuana,” which “helps the DA, but at the same time there is no measurable amount and you don’t know whether or not a person is actually impaired,” California defense attorney Robert Shatzco told KRON4. “We’re helping our clients to either get the cases dismissed or get them reduced down to a lesser charge.” 

So, stop telling on yourselves.

How To Avoid Surge Pricing On Ride Sharing Apps

While ride sharing apps are still (for the most part) less expensive than taxis, the crazy demand for them has made their prices spike.

Remember when people started using Uber because it was the cheapest option out there? Times have changed. While ride sharing apps are still (for the most part) less expensive than taxis, the crazy demand for them has made their prices spike. Never mind if it’s the holidays, rush hour or if there’s bad weather.

Lyft and Uber say that surge pricing, which can be up to four times the original price of the ride, is used to reduce the amount of riders, but no one wants to pay an outrageous amount of money just to move to another place. Here’s how you can prevent the hassle.

Walk a little  

A couple of blocks can make a big difference for price hikes, especially since these are determined by “zones.” For example, if you’re leaving a bar and are located in a street where there’s a bunch of other bars and people, move up a street or two and your price might change significantly. If you see no changes, you can also try waiting it out. According to a study conducted by Northeastern University, the price of ride sharing tends to change every 5 minutes.

Schedule rides in advance

Scheduling rides in advance works well for trips to airports or when you know you need to be somewhere at a certain time. While Uber charges you the minute your ride gets scheduled, Lyft locks your price the moment you schedule the ride. Of course, the app will make some assumptions depending on the schedule of your ride, but you’ll probably end up saving some money regardless.

RELATED: Uber Will Now Let Your Pet Ride For An Extra Fee

uber offers quiet mode for passengers who dont feel like talking
Photo courtesy of Uber

Refer friends for a free ride

Most ride sharing apps give you discounts and free rides if you refer friends who don’t already have the app on their phones. This works well if you live in a place where there’s a variety of ride sharing apps such as Waze carpool, Juno and more.

Use carpooling

The pool options on Lyft and Uber tend to be significantly cheaper than the private rides. While this route is slightly unpredictable since you never know how many people will join your ride and how long the overall trip will take, it’s an option worth considering if you’re in no rush and are looking to save a few bucks.

RELATED: Uber Drivers May Squeal On You If You Smell Like Marijuana

Photo courtesy of Lyft

Compare prices with other apps

It’s a delicate balance relying on your phone for everything and also keeping the app count to a minimum, but everyone needs to at least have Lyft and Uber on them so they can compare and contrast prices. The difference between apps is stark at times, especially during rush hours. Also, don’t forget that these apps provide periodic discounts and offers that apply only to you and that have nothing to do with rush hour.

Marijuana Not Welcome Home For The Holidays? Here’s How To Keep Cool

No matter what, cannabis is part of your life and will still be there after the winter celebrations. So will your family. Strike the balance.

We’re all (presumably) grownups here and no adult wants to have their pesky-but-well-meaning relatives, who may not be down with cannabis or its cause, meddling with their lifestyle. That goes double when cannabis isn’t even allowed to step foot on their front porch. What’s a person to do, especially if the use is for medicinal purposes? Here are some tips that might help you survive Christmas.

Don’t Make It An Issue

You can take this in two different ways. If you’re purely using cannabis to elevate your mind and body, a break won’t hurt. And even if you would love to talk about the new legalization laws in your state, perhaps the time with family should be just that. You might have night sweats and vivid dreams, but you’re not going to get the disapproving stare from that hyper-concerned relative. Chanting a mantra in your mind may be a good self-help trick here.

RELATED: 7 Crucial Cannabis Hacks For Surviving The Holiday Season

The other way you could take it is to be completely casual with your use, but keep it to yourself. When you do something as if it’s the most natural thing to do — and what’s more natural than activating our endocannabinoid system? — you don’t draw attention to the thing going down. When it comes to cannabis, having a stash of properly infused edibles is a perfect way to imbibe without calling attention to yourself. A vape pen is also a wonderfully stealthy way to get your buzz on; just take a little walk around the block.

Photo by Erwan Hesry via Unsplash

Be Loud And Proud

You don’t need an excuse to simply be yourself and gently educate others along the way if you’re imbibing in recreational marijuana. But if you are, in fact, a medical patient who needs your weed throughout the day for chronic pain or other ailments, just make sure that you’re not the one to go on the defensive. Step outside to smoke your marijuana. Or, don’t even try to be discreet. You’re the one who’s going to have the good night’s sleep from your trusty indica brought along just for that purpose.

RELATED: How To Use Marijuana On The DL When You’re Home For The Holidays

Being loud doesn’t mean take over the conversation — unless of course the curious are engaged — and it doesn’t have to mean wreaking of Sour Diesel at the dinner table either. But being loud and proud can mean having an educated voice and a healthy respect for the views of others. Listen to counterpoints so you can intelligently reply with the correct answer. Or just smoke ‘em if you’ve got ‘em, wash your hands and face, and go on with whatever festivities surround. No matter what, cannabis is part of your life and will still be there after the winter celebrations. So will your family. Strike the balance.

Cannabis Tomatillo Salsa Verde Just In Time For Winter

Lucky for most of us, the outdoor cannabis harvest and the end of gardening season usually coincide, which often leads to some dank salsas for winter.

At the end of almost every garden season, I, like many of you, are left with an abundance of one or two things. For me, it is usually tomatillos, also known as tomato verde, Mexican husk tomatoes, jamberries, little tomatoes…whatever you want to call them. Personally, I call them delicious.

Lucky for most of us, the outdoor cannabis harvest and the end of gardening season usually coincide, which often leads to some dank salsas in our household. Although there are only 11 states that allow legal recreational cannabis use, it is still fairly easy to get your hands on a bunch of cannabis fan leaves (easier than getting a zip of kush these days). The combination of citrusy fresh tomatillos, refreshingly spiced fresh cannabis leaves, cilantro, jalapeños and lime juice make an incredibly fresh and vibrant salsa: fruity, slightly herbaceous, definitely tart and acidic.

RELATED: How To: 4 Ways To Use Raw Cannabis Leaves

Using the water soluble cannabis sugar will help tame and balance the tartness of the late-season tomatillos, while roasting or charring helps concentrate the flavors and adds some depth and sweetness. We usually can around 20 pints of this salsa to make it through the winter months without a garden. Enjoy this as a salsa or use it to braise a pork shoulder. Either way, you win.

Photo by Chef Sebastian Carosi

Tomatillo Salsa Verde

*best made in late summer when the local farmers markets are over ran with fresh garden grown tomatillos, peppers and herbs…

prep time: 20 minutes

cook time: 15 minutes

yield: 1-1½ quarts

total thc/cbd: 50mg thc / 50mg cbd

equipment needed: cast iron skillet, tongs, blender, cutting board, chef’s knife, large bowl, blender

INGREDIENTS

3 lbs organic tomatillos (husks removed by soaking in a bowl of warm water)

1 large sweet onion (peeled and medium diced)

6 cloves of garlic left in their peel

1 bunch of organic cilantro (rough chopped, stems and all)

1 cup fresh cannabis leaves

3-4 jalapeno peppers (depending on how hot you want your salsa)

3 Tbsp fresh lime juice

¼ to ½ cup water (depending on your overall desired consistency)

½ tsp ground cumin

5 packets ruby cannabis sugar [10mg thc / 10mg cbd each packet]

1 Tbsp sea salt flakes (I use Jacobsen)

1 tsp fresh cracked pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

In a hot dry cast iron skillet over med/high heat, place the tomatillos, peppers and the garlic cloves in their peel. Sear the vegetables on all sides until lightly charred, moving around with the tongs. Remove the vegetables from the pan… let them cool to room temperature. Place the cooked vegetables and all of the remaining ingredients in a blender. Pulse until the mixture reaches your desired consistency. Adjust seasonings (lime juice, salt, pepper and cumin) mix well. Place in a container and cool overnight in the fridge before serving.

RELATED: How To Make Your Edibles Taste Less Like Weed

Photo by Chef Sebastian Carosi

How Young Adults Are Misusing Medical Marijuana Prescriptions

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A new study found that physical and health problems weren’t significant factors in whether young adults gained access to medical marijuana.

A new study suggests young adults who apply for state medical marijuana cards are already heavy cannabis users, and could be misusing the program. These same young adults are also registering for medical marijuana access more than those with physical or mental conditions these programs are designed to benefit.

This study, which was published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, openly challenged the current configuration of medical marijuana programs in the United States.

“It seems that more frequent use of marijuana, and not the physical and mental health problems that one ostensibly seeks a medical marijuana card to address, is what drives acquisition of a medical marijuana card,” lead author Eric R. Pedersen, from the RAND Corporation in Santa Monica, California, said in a statement.

RELATED: Vaping Could Be Worse For Your Heart Than Smoking Cigarettes

The study narrowed its focus specifically to 264 people in California between the ages of 18 to 20. These participants were followed from middle school through adolescence, though the study concentrated its data from 2015 to 2017. This time frame was when medical marijuana was legal and accessible in the state, but before recreational marijuana sales began in January 1, 2018.

None of the participants had a medical marijuana card at the beginning of the study, but they had used marijuana at least once in the past month. At the onset and one year later, those in the study answered questions about their marijuana use, whether they had symptoms of depression and anxiety, and physical health issues. Researchers found that at the one year follow-up, 19% of participants had applied for and received a medical marijuana card. Men were 2.91 times more likely than women to have obtained a medical marijuana card.

MLB Tacitly Encourages Marijuana As Pain Management for Players
Photo by Classen Rafael/EyeEm/Getty Images

Each additional day of marijuana use participants reported at the beginning of the study increased their odds of getting a medical marijuana card by 7%. The study’s authors found that, after controlling for confounding variables, physical and health problems weren’t significant factors in whether those in the study gained access to medical marijuana.

RELATED: Science Still Confused Over Whether Marijuana Can Tame Opioid Epidemic

According to the study’s authors, policymakers should “design medical marijuana programs in their states that allow card acquisition only for people with mental and physical health problems that have documented evidence of medicinal benefit.”

“Making medical marijuana cards easy to obtain for vaguely defined mental or physical health conditions that are not supported by any research evidence has potential for those who use more heavily to claim need for a medical marijuana card solely to have easier access,” Pederson said in a statement.

5 Animal Videos To Save Your Week: Dec. 2

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This week’s selection of cute animals includes cats, dogs, a chipmunk and a couple of ferrets.

There’s no better pick-me-up than the one you get when you see a clip of an animal acting silly, which is why we’ve compiled this weekly column. These short videos feature all sorts of animals and can provide that much needed mid-week rush of endorphins, anywhere at any time.

This week’s cute animals feature a dog with a big belly, different kinds of cat friendships, a tiny chipmunk and some ferrets playing with each other. Have a look:

Post-Thanksgiving dog

The week after Thanksgiving is a blow in all sorts of ways. We’re back from a long break and Christmas is only a couple of weeks away, meaning that our work energy is kind of gone. We’re also feeling really bloated, which is why this little guy is the perfect way to kick off this column.

RELATED: 5 Animal Videos To Save Your Week: Nov. 18

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5VeenhFeHw/

Cat friends

The only thing better and more relaxing than a cuddling cat is two cats cuddling with each other. You’re welcome.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5ps4C5FCKE/

Cat & dog friends

This strangely amicable cat is content to just chill there and play with his friend’s ear. Until it gets bored and rolls out of the way because you can’t be too nice to dogs; they’ll get the wrong impression.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5p8jrmFlX5/

Small chipmunk

Chipmunks are pretty popular when it comes to strange pets. They’re adorable and very small, but they’re also wild, with the domesticated ones having lived with people since birth. In short: if you see a chipmunk on a tree, don’t pet it.

RELATED: 5 Animal Videos To Save Your Week: Nov. 11

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5oPAybl9cI/

Two ferrets

Unlike other uncommon pets, ferrets are very sociable and can make for really good and simple to care for pets. They can eat cat food and ferret food. They’re super cute and like to have friends. Just look at them with their long awkward bodies.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5qNTQSHceY/

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